L'uomo meraviglia

I love this film! I can't believe that people can love Danny Kaye in such mediocre films as "Hans Christian Anderson" or "The Court Jester" and not even have heard of this one. Kaye simply steals the show as both a nervous book-worm and as his popular night-club performer brother. "Cuddles" Sekall is equally great with his rib-splittingly hilarious delicatessan-owner ("I ask you vot you vant?") and Otto Kruger also has a role in the film. A part to look out for is the part where the ghost of the murdered night-club performing brother Buster gets inside the body of his brother for the first time, making the shy book-worm start dancing all over the place insanely. The only thing that I would say is wrong with this film (and with many other Samuel Goldwyn films for that matter) are the ghastly scenes featuring the Goldwyn Girls. But this film does contain a very funny sequence in which Kaye sings Orci-cogna (I don't know how you spell it) only getting continuous bouts of hay-fever. Oh, and I certainly couldn't write a review on this film and omit the great opera scene at the end where Kaye ends up having to have to sing clues about a murder to the police. This film a rightly deserved oscar for best special effects, and was nominated for a few others including best song. All in all, a highly underrated film that is well worth seeing. Enjoy! 10/10

Danny Kaye (with a good deal of assistance from his wife Sylvia Fine, who wrote most of his musical numbers) was one of the finest musical comedians ever and is in fine form here in one of his best vehicles. He plays twin brothers and is quite manic at times. The special effects deservedly won an Oscar and the musical numbers are great! Especially the one during the opera. The Marx Brothers aside, opera has never been more fun! This film is a treat and is most happily recommended!

A fanciful, light-hearted comedy with cheerful dance numbers and jolly jokes. This means that the movie was pretty much the polar opposite to what had been happening in the real world for the last ten years or so.

The visual and special effects were superb for their time - they're still quite successful - but this was about the only aspect in which the movie was innovative and progressive. The general subject matter (twins and twin-related confusion) is as classic as can be, going back all the way to Antiquity. Moreover, the movie's denouement rests on one of the great staples of comedy and farce, to wit a royally messed-up opera performance. (Still, the person who wrote the lines "Choo-Choo.. Laverne... is.. is.. is... Minnie Smith !" deserved a pay rise the size of China.)

Well worth a watch, although the colours may seem somewhat harsh and gaudy to the modern eye.

Wonder Man is the first film I've seen with Danny Kaye, and I enjoyed it. The humor is light, inoffensive, and Danny Kaye does it well. Besides Kaye, there were a few notable funny characters, such as the deli shop owner and the drunk at the bar. Well worth watching if you're in the mood for a happy and funny film.

Danny Kaye plays a set of twins, a bookworm and a nightclub comic. When Buzzy Belew, the comic is murdered by the mob, his spirit goes to see his brother Edwin dingle. When Dingle refuses to go on stage to convince the mob that Bellew is still alive, Bellew gets into his body. Together they try to solve the murder and get the girl! Lots of great one-liners and a couple of catchy songs, notably Bali-Boogie, and more than a couple of Danny's trademark off-beat dance-sequences.

With Virginia Mayo and Vera-Ellen on hand to provide dual love interests, this is a must-see for fans of Technicolour Hollywood. THis is Sam Goldwyn at his colourful best!